Customization of Option ROM Images

1. A method for configuring an option ROM image comprising a plurality of configurable ROM image modules, the method comprising: receiving, bundled in a single file, the plurality of configurable ROM image modules and a software application that provides an interface for modifying a plurality of features of at least one configurable ROM image module, the plurality of configurable ROM image modules including a configuration utility image comprising configuration settings editable using the software application; interfacing the software application with at least one configurable ROM image module; modifying a feature of the at least one configurable ROM image module by using the interface provided by the software application; and building an option ROM image using the at least one configurable ROM image modules.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of configurable ROM image modules comprises a core BIOS image module, a core BIOS strings module, a configuration utility images module, a configuration utility options module, and a configuration utility strings module.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of configurable ROM image modules are compressed.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of requiring security authorization to access the software application or the plurality of configurable ROM image modules.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a vendor is required to provide a security key in order to access the software application or the plurality of configurable ROM image modules.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of maintaining a file history library in which previously built ROM images are stored and catalogued.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein modification requirements are set in which the at least one configurable ROM image module may only be modified.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of rejecting a modification to the at least one configurable ROM module if the modification is not allowed by the modification requirements.

9. A system including a computer having a memory for configuring an option ROM image comprising a plurality of configurable ROM image modules, the system comprising: a bundled file comprising the plurality of configurable option ROM image modules; and software application, bundled in the bundled file, that provides an interface to a user so that a feature modification of at least one configurable option ROM image module may be performed, the plurality of configurable ROM image modules including a configuration utility image comprising configuration settings editable using the software application.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the software application is a software development kit provided by a supplier of the option ROM image modules.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of configurable option ROM image modules comprises a core BIOS image module, a core BIOS strings module, a configuration utility images module, a configuration utility options module, and a configuration utility strings module.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the core BIOS image module comprises a plurality of configurable BIOS options.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the core BIOS strings module comprises a plurality of configurable BIOS strings.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the configurations utility options module comprises a plurality of configurable utility options.

15. The system of claim 9 further comprising a file history library in which previously built ROM images are stored and catalogued.

16. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for customizing an option ROM image comprising a plurality of configurable ROM image modules, the computer program product comprising computer instructions for: receiving, bundled in a single file, the plurality of configurable ROM image modules and a software application that provides an interface for modifying a plurality of features of at least one configurable ROM image module, the plurality of configurable ROM image modules including a configuration utility image comprising configuration settings editable using the software application; interfacing the software application with at least one configurable ROM image module; modifying a feature of the at least one configurable ROM image modules using the software application; and building an option ROM image using the at least one configurable ROM or source image modules.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , further comprising computer instructions for requiring security authorization to access the software application or the plurality of configurable ROM image modules.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the plurality of configurable ROM image modules comprises a core BIOS image module, a core BIOS strings module, a configuration utility images module, a configuration utility options module, and a configuration utility strings module.

19. The computer program product of claim 16 , further comprising computer instructions for maintaining a file history library in which previously built ROM images are stored and catalogued.

20. The computer program product of claim 16 , further comprising computer instructions for establishing modification requirements in which the at least one configurable ROM image module may be modified.